Foot rest

ABSTRACT

A support for resting the feet comprising a V-shaped bracket of unitary construction, one leg of said bracket including a nonslip surface for resting on a floor surface and the other leg having a foot rest element attached thereto. In the preferred embodiment, said bracket comprises first and second spaced apart, resilient, V-shaped members, preferably constructed of spring steel, a foot rest element attached to a first leg of each of said spaced apart members and non-slip surfaces attached to each of the other leg members to prevent the support from slipping on the surface on which it is sitting. In the embodiment designed for supporting feet encased in footwear having high heels, the foot rest element extends only partially along said first legs beginning at the outer end thereof whereby when the ball of the foot is resting thereon, the heel of the shoe is held clear of the floor surface on which the device is resting thereby preventing said heels from resting on said floor surface and enabling the wearer thereof to sit comfortably without any undue stress being applied to said heels.

Bridger, Mont. 59014 22 Filed: May117,1971

[21] App]. No.5 144,088

[52] [1.8. CI. 297/439 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 9/12 [58] Field of Search 297/438, 439, 437

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,913,038 11/1959 McDerby 297/295 2,802,514 8/1957 Ninde 297/296 3,411,822 ll/l968 Borenstein 297/294 3,332,718 7/1967 Adolf 297/294 3,554,600 1/1971 Hennessey 297/439 3,556,591 1/1971 Smith 297/439 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,155,311 11/1957 France 297/439 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney-Alfred E. Hall United States Patent 1191 Buehring [45] J 1 FQOT REST [76] Inventor: Arnold Buehring, PO. Box 5, ABSTNCT A support for resting the feet comprising a V-shaped bracket of unitary construction, one leg of said bracket including a non-slip surface for resting on a floor surface and the other leg having a foot rest element attached thereto. In, the preferred embodiment, said bracket comprises first and second spaced apart, resilient, V-shaped members, preferably constructed of spring steel, a foot rest element attached to a first leg of each of said spaced apart members and non-slip surfaces attached to each of the other leg members to prevent the support from slippingon the surface on which it is sitting. In the embodiment designed for supporting feet encased in footwear having high heels, the foot rest element extends only partially along said first legs beginning at the outer endthereof whereby when the ball of the foot is resting thereon, the heel of the shoe is held clear of the floor surface on which the device is resting thereby preventing said heels from resting on said floor surface and enabling the wearer thereof to sit comfortably without any undue stress being applied to said heels.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 1 51974 INVENTO ARA/0L0 5. BUEHRl/VG ATTORNEY Four nasr BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. I is a side view of the novel foot rest generally The present invention relates generally to a foot rest 5 indicated by the numeral 6 and comprises a V-shaped and in particular to a foot rest which is not only restful to the feet but which also allows a person with highheeled footwear to rest his or her feet thereon without damage to the heels of said footwear and Without the discomfort which comes from trying to sit in such a position that the feet are close enough to the body to allow the body weight to be distributed to both the heel and the sole of the footwear.

Individuals wearing footwear with high heels and in particular ladies wearing high-heeled shoes have difficulty sitting in any position except where both the heel and the sole of the footwear are on the floor. Consider, for example, a lady wearing high-heeled shoes trying to sit in an automobile. Because of the distance from the floor to the seat, she has difficulty keeping both the heel and the sole of the footwear on the floor. If she attempts to stretch her legs out in front of her, the weight of her legs and feet rest upon the heel of the shoes. This is not only uncomfortable, but has a tendency to break the heel off the shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a solution to the aforementioned problems by providing a foot rest for enabling individuals not only to rest their feet on a resilient spring constructed device which absorbs shock, but which is also constructed in such a manner as to enable wearers of high-heeled shoes to rest their feet in such a position with the legs normally extended that neither the position is awkward nor is any undue pressure applied to the high heels worn by the individual.

Thus is an object of the present invention to provide a foot rest which is restful to and does provide rest for the feet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a foot rest which is not only restful to the feet but which also allows persons with high-heeled foot wear to rest their feet thereon without damage to the heels of said footwear.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a foot rest which is restful to the feet, which allows persons with high-heeled footwear to rest their feet thereon without damage to the heels of said footwear, which allows the person to sit in such a position with high-heeled shoes on without discomfort and which remains securely engaged with the surface on which it is sitting to prevent any slipping of the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other more detailed and specific objectives will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying bracket 8 of unitary construction, leg Id of said bracket having foot rest element i2 attached thereto by means of screws or other fasteners 14 and the other leg of said V-shaped bracket 8 including non-slip surfaces id for resting on floor surface 20. In the preferred embodiment, said bracket ti comprises first and second V- shaped members each of which is constructed of a resilient material such as spring steel. Further, in the preferred embodiment the first and second resilient V- shaped members are spaced apart from each other as can be seen in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3. While the foot rest can be used on any surface 24), FIG. I. shows it in particular use in an automobile with wall 22 representing a portion of the fire-wall between the engine and the interior of the car compartment. However, it can also be seen that FIG. I could represent the foot rest that is used in the back seat of an automobile or on any other surface. As can be seen in FIG. I, if a person wearing shoes 24 having high heels 26, shoes 24 may be placed on the foot rest 8 such that the sole of the shoe 24 rests on element l2 while heel 26 touches neither the floor nor element l2 thereby enabling the legs 28 of the wearer of shoes 24 to be placed in a relaxing angle 30 with respect to seat 32.

.FIG. 2 shows the problems which must be faced by the wearer of high-heeled shoes without the novel footrest. If the legs 36 of the wearer of the high-heeled shoes 38 are placed at such an angle 34 with seat 40 so as to be in a comfortable position, heel 42 absorbs all of the weight of the leg, therefore tending to weaken and perhaps snap the beef 42 off the shoe 38. If the wearer of the shoes 3% places the shoes in such a position that both the heel 42 and the sole 44 are in contact with floor 26, the legs assume a parallel position with respect to the front edge of seat 4d thereby causing a very uncomfortable angle 4. 6 between the leg below the knee and the leg above the knee. Thus, it will be seen that if the wearer of the high-heeled shoes places the shoes in such a position that the legs are comfortable, then the high heels must bear the weight of the leg whereas if the legs are positioned such that the weight is removed from the heel of the shoe, then the wearer must sit in a very uncomfortable position. Applicants novel footrest, as shown in FIG. I, allows the wearer of high-heeled shoes to place the legs in a comfortable po sition without placing an undue stress on the heel of the shoe.

FIG. 3 is an isommetric view of the novel foot rest showing both first and second V-shaped members 8 and 28 each having attached thereto non-slip surfaces 12 andl and 48 and 5t) respectfully. Also, in this view, it can be seen that both of the V-shaped members have foot rest 14% attached thereto by screws In and 52. FIG. 3 also shows that the V-shaped elements are in a spaced apart relationship with each other which enable the high heels of shoes to project below the bottom of footrest element MI and yet be held above the floor surface.

By constructing the V-shaped members of a resilient material such as spring steel, the feet are truly rested in that any shock or vibration between the feet and the surface upon which the foot rest is located is absorbed by the foot rest.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the novel foot rest showing the spaced apart relationship of the first and second resilient V-shaped bracket members 8 and 28. Further, in this view, it can be seen that foot rest element 12 extends only partially along said legs 8 and 28 beginning at or beyond the outer end thereof whereby when the ball of the foot is resting thereon, the heel is held clear of the floor surface on which the foot support is resting thereby preventing said heel from coming in contact with said floor surface. It is obvious that if the device is to be used by one who is not wearing high heels, the foot rest element 12 can be extended downwardly along V-shaped leg members 8 and 28 to the point shown by dotted outline 54 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. This will enable the entire foot, both heel and sole, to be resting on said foot support.

There has been disclosed a novel support for resting the feet which utilizes a V-shaped bracket of unitary construction, which bracket is made of resilient material such as spring steel and which is so constructed as to enable an individual wearing high-heeled shoes to comfortably rest the feet on said foot support without applying any undue pressure to the heels.

Although this invention has been described with particular reference to a particular environment, various features, construction details and materials, and functional relationships, various changes will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is not to be limited to any particular environment, features, construction, materials or functional relationships except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foot rest comprising:

a. first and second brackets of resilient material and of unitary construction, said resilient material allowing said brackets to absorb shock applied thereto,

b. each of said brackets having a first horizontally extending leg resting upon the surface upon which the foot rest has been placed and a second leg extending upwardly at an acute angle from the junction of said legs to define a V-shaped configuration,

c. non-slip surfaces attached to said first leg of each of said brackets for minimizing the tendency of said foot rest to slip upon the surface upon which it has been placed,

d. a foot rest fixedly attached to the second leg of each of said brackets and holding said brackets in laterally spaced apart relationship,

e. said foot rest extending downwardly from the free ends of the second legs of said bracket to a plane spaced above the junction of said first and second legs of each bracket, whereby the ball of the foot of the user can be placed on the foot rest while the heel of the user is retained above the surface on which the foot rest has been placed. 

1. A foot rest comprising: a. first and second brackets of resilient material and of unitary construction, said resilient material allowing said brackets to absorb shock applied thereto, b. each of said brackets having a first horizontally extending leg resting upon the surface upon which the foot rest has been placed and a second leg extending upwardly at an acute angle from the junction of said legs to define a V-shaped configuration, c. non-slip surfaces attached to said first leg of each of said brackets for minimizing the tendency of said foot rest to slip upon the surface upon which it has been placed, d. a foot rest fixedly attached to the second leg of each of said brackets and holding said brackets in laterally spaced apart relationship, e. said foot rest extending downwardly from the free ends of the second legs of said bracket to a plane spaced above the junction of said first and second legs of each bracket, whereby the ball of the foot of the user can be placed on the foot rest while the heel of the user is retained above the surface on which the foot rest has been placed. 